Dene Group splashes out on post kit

The Newcastle-based firm, which claims to be the largest provider of commercials to ITV’s regional broadcast TV teams, recently completed its first originations: two 30-minute shows for the BBC about the Corus steel plant and one for CBBC called Stammer School.

“Broadcast TV is an exciting development for us,” said managing director Steve Salam.

“Having got our first network programmes under our belt we are hoping to win more commissions.”

He added that the Dene Group, which is made up of Dene Films, Qurios Animation, Metropolis Pictures, post house Imagine TX and Riff Raff, an IPTV development company, will install eight Final Cut Pro suites.

“Each station will have access to After Effects and they will all be geared up for HD,” said Salam.

“One suite will be set up for grading and we’re looking at the new version of Da Vinci and a tangent control service to give a telecine-style grading suite within one of our Final Cut systems. We’re also looking to upgrade our audio to ProTools v9.”

Salam said the group would increase its 3D capacity with the purchase of Cineform’s Neo 3D online software.

The Dene Group has secured £500,000 of funding from the Growth Plus Fund managed by FW Capital, together with £150,000 from a fund managed by NEL Fund Managers.

A further £100,000 has been secured through a Grant for Business Investment administered by One North East. RBS has invested £45,000.

As well as the new kit, the investment will provide working capital and will be used for expansion and relocation to new headquarters in Ouseburn, Newcastle.